wordingham



C. H. WORDINGHAM.

SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC ENERGY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I2. 19: 3.

1,304,237. I Patented May 20, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTUR I BY (72,

ATTORNEY C. H. WORDINGHAM.

SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC ENERGY.

APPLICATlON FILED AUGJ'Z. 1918- v Patented May 20, l9i9.

2 S HEETS-SHEET 2 BY amjzm ATTORNEY CHARLES HENRY woanmonnn, or BEDHILL,ENGLAND.

SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC ENERGY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENRI WORDINGHAM, of Beechgroove, RidgewayRoad, Redhill, "in the county of Surrey, England, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Systems for Distributing Electric Energy, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates-to systems for dis tributing electric energy, andparticularly to systems adopted in marine vessels, mines or otherlocalities, parts of which are liable to flooding.

Experience has proved that in many instances it is desirable to continueto transmit electric energy through the flooded part or compartment,while it is generally desirable to discontinue the supply of energy tothe consuming devices fitted within the said part or compartment.

The object of my invention is to enable the above requirements to befulfilled, and the invention consists in providing means fordisconnecting the whole of the branch circuit or circuits in the floodedarea from the main or mains from which the supply is obtained, whileleaving the main or mains intact and in continued operation.

More specifically the invention consists in providingfor each pole ofeach tapping from the main, means for disconnecting the branch circuitor tapping, operable on the flooding of the particular part orcompartment to which such circuit 'or tapping extends, the inventionbeing independent of the number of tappings adopted.

The invention also consists in providing means whereby the rising ofthe. water in the flooded part or compartment to a pie determined levelmay actuate the branch circuit or tapping disconnecting means.

Referring to the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings z- Figure 1is a diagrammatic'v'iew illustrating one convenient application of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a disconnecting means.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a modified arrangement of circuitbreaking or disconnecting means applicable for disconnecting a pluralityof circuits.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same orsimilar parts.

In carrying my invention into efi'ect in the manner illustrated at Fig.l, which may be applied to a system of distributing electric energy in amarine vessel where, for example, any particular compartment may beliable to be flooded through damage to the hull or other cause, Iprovide for each pole a of each tapping from the ring or other main, adisconnecting device which may take the form of a main fuse b on eachpole through which the whole supply to the tapping passes, and a shuntcircuit 0 may be provided for short circuiting the circuit controlled bysuch main fuses b, the shunt circuit being completed automatically onthe rising of the flood water to a predetermined level. Inthe Fig. 1example, the fixed contacts 03 of the shunt circuit are adapted to bebridged across by the movable contact 6 pivotally mounted on the leverf. The tension coil spring 9 tends to force the movable contact 6 on tothe fixed contacts d, but is resisted by the fuse Wire h. The latterforms part of a subsidiary circuit containing two terminals 2', z" thecircuit between which is completed by the flooding water when the vesselor container 7' in which the terminals are housed becomes immersed.(Hereinafter the part of the disconnecting means which is operated bythe flooding water is termed the flood switch.) When therefore thecircuit containing the terminals z and 2" is completed by the floodingwater, the wire it is fused and the spring 9 thereupon forces themovable contact 6 against the fixed contacts, so completing the shuntcircuit which shortcircuits the branch circuit or tapping and causes theblowing of the fuses 6, whereby the branch circuit is disconnected fromthe main. The lever f may be held by a catch released by a detonator asin- Fig. 2.

It is essential that the terminals which are connected to the mains andremain alive after disconnection of the branch circuit, shall be alwaysmaintained out of contact with the flooding water. This is convenientlyaccomplished by disposing the disconnecting means, which in the Fig. 1arrangement comprise the fuses b and the upper terminals, within avessel g of diving bell form, so proportioned that should floodingoccur, the water will never reach to a suflicient height therein to comeinto contact with the live terminals.

As a further type of disconnecting means, I may employ a circuit breakersuch as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2. In this case movable contactsa, v aremounted oncarrier arms w, 'w" fulcrumed at '00, m and operatedfrom intermeshing toothed quadrants y held in their service position byacatch piece 2 engaging the pin 2. The detonator to which isflr'ed by theclosing of a shunt circuit by the flood switch actuates the said catchpiece 2 which freesthe quadrants so that under the action of the springs3, 3, the'movable contacts 0, 1) are withdrawn fromthefixed contacts.Thebranch circuit is thus disconnected. The connections from the mainsleading to the fixed contacts are mounted andosupported so as to be atthe upper'inside portion of the diving hell 9, whereby they are shieldedfrom contact with the flood water. The circuit breaker is provided withspark contacts, and with the necessary arc-shields to suit requirements.

The auxiliary or shunt circuits may take their supply from the side ofthe disconnecting device remote from the main, 'so that such circuitsmay be'disconnected when-the device operates, but it will be understoodthat I do not wish to confine myself to such an arrangement. One side ofthe. auxiliary circuit may, if desired, be connected with the main sideof the break or disconnecting means. In the latter case, however,-Ipreferably employ fuses b within a diving bell 9 (see Fig. 8) forcutting off the auxiliary circuit 0 and keeping thelive terminals waterfree if there should be an excessive leak through the auxiliary circuitafter the disconnecting device has operated.

The invention is applicable with equal advantage not only to power andlight circuits but also-to any other electric circuits terminating ininstruments or apparatusin a part or compartment liable to flooding.

In applying my invention to such arrangements, I maytake the whole ofthecircuits terminating in instruments in anyone compartment through I amultiple switch or switches and provide means fordisconnecting suchswitch or switches similar to the means before described fordisconnecting the power and lighting branch from the power and lightingmain. 7

It will be understoodthat while I have (topics ,o this patent may beobtained tor described the method of carrying the invention into effectby reference to its application to the circuit of a marine vessel, I mayemploythe invention with equal effect and like advantage'in anysituation where it is desirable that a branch circuit should be put out"of action without interfering with the main, and the invention is alsoapplicable, whatever may be the main system adopted, and I suitably vary,the form of construction of the disconnecting 'means, includingthefloodswitchesto suit any particular services or requirements.

Having now described my inventionwhat I claim asnew and desireto secureby Letters Patent is p I ,1. In systems for distributing electricenergy, disconnecting me ans provided with live terminals, a casinginclosingsaiddisconnectingmeans and terminals and including animperforate'top, imperforated sides and an open bottom,saidcasingmaintaining the live terminals out of contact with water, when thecasing is submerged, by trapping air beneath the top of thecasing andpreventing water from rising therein, a flood switch exposed to the:flooding water, conducting wires connecting the flood switch anddisconnecting means, and means controlled by said flood switch forcausing the actuation of said disconnecting means,

,2. Inusystems for distributing electric energy, disconnecting means, acasing-inclosing said disconnecting means and including an imperforatetop, imperforate sides and an open bottom, said casing maintaining thedisconnecting means outof contact with water, when the casing issubmerged, by

trapping air beneath the top of said casing ,andpreventing water fromrising .therein, a

flood switch. consisting of terminals, the circuit between which isvcompleted by the flooding water, conductingmeans connecting the floodswitch and, disconnecting means, and a detonator arrangedintheconducting means and controlled by the flood switch for causingtheactuation of said disconnecting means. I

, .In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES HENRY WORDINGHAM.

five v cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,WashingtomD. G. v

